Eminem drops lead single off ‘MMLP2’

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Slim Shady is BACK. After teasing fans with “Survival,” Eminem dropped the true lead single off his eighth studio album “Berzerk.” The Beastie Boys-esque track produced by Rick Rubin hits hard and quickly reminds you just how great a rapper Em really is. The most exciting bit to come out of all this: tracks “Berzerk” and “Survival” are part of MMLP2. Do you need me to spell this out for you? Shady’s next record is a sequel to his instant-classic third album The Marshall Mathers LP; that 2000 release featured hit songs like “The Real Slim Shady,” “The Way I Am,” and “Stan.” Simply by naming his upcoming album what he did raises the stakes and the anticipation tenfold. And if “Berzerk” is any indication of what’s in store, I think fans will be plenty comfortable with the new material. And yes, there’s a street date: MMLP2 drops November 5.

Listen to “Berzerk” above and download a copy via iTunes. If this track preview video is any indication, an accompanying music video is imminent.

2013 MTV VMAs: Justin Timberlake scores

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From Miley’s twerk works to Bruno Mars’ pipes, this year’s MTV Video Music Awards had a little something for everybody. But there’s no arguing that the night belonged to the Video Vanguard Award recipient Justin Timberlake. Before accepting the award from a jubilant Jimmy Fallon, JT wowed the crowd and viewers tuning in with a never-ending medley of his greatest hits including a blink-and-you-missed-it NSYNC reunion. The artist proved that he’s a true performer in every sense of the word. And if that wasn’t enough, Timberlake also went home with the most limited edition KAWS Moonmen ; his hit single “Mirrors” won Best Editing and was crowned Video of the Year. “Suit & Tie,” helmed by filmmaker David Fincher, won Best Direction. Add in the golden Vanguard statue and the count lands at four. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, who also made new fans that night with a great rendition of their track “Same Love,” came in a close second racking up three trophies.

For the full list of winners, click here.

Movie trailer round-up: ‘A.C.O.D.’, ‘+1’ & ‘Carrie’

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Adam Scott (Step Brothers, Parks And Rec) stars in A.C.O.D. as an Adult Child of Divorce. Richard Jenkins, Catherine O’Hara, Amy Poehler, Clark Duke, Jessica Alba, and Jane Lynch make up the rest of the comedy all-star lineup. A brief synopsis reads:

A.C.O.D. follows Carter (Adam Scott), a seemingly well-adjusted Adult Child of Divorce. Having survived the madness of his parents’ (Richard Jenkins and Catherine O’Hara) divorce, Carter now has a successful career and supportive girlfriend (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). But when his younger brother (Clark Duke) gets engaged, Carter is forced to reunite his bitterly divorced parents and their new spouses (Amy Poehler and Ken Howard) for the wedding, causing the chaos of his childhood to return, including his wacky therapist (Jane Lynch).

A.C.O.D. releases October 4. The poster was too good to miss, so you’ll find the trailer after the break.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘A.C.O.D.’, ‘+1’ & ‘Carrie’ →

‘SNL’ finds its new featured players for season 39

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Out with the old, in with the new, as the saying goes. It has been confirmed that SNL vets Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis will not be returning to Studio 8H in September, and we know that Weekend Update host and head writer Seth Myers will be bowing out in the new year as he transitions to Late Night. Fresh blood is a needed this year as much as any and if recent reports prove true, Lorne Michaels has found his (potential) new stars.

Meet Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Noël Wells, John Milhiser, and Michael Patrick O’Brien. The first four hail from the Upright Citizens Brigade, the well-established comedy house that fostered talent like Bobby Moynihan and Kate McKinnon. O’Brien, who might seem familiar to you, has been an SNL writer for four years now and he’s been featured in numerous sketches over the years in minor roles.

Thanks to the Internet, you can get to know the new SNL featured players by watching their sketches and improv on YouTube. Bennet and Mooney are part of a sketch comedy group called Good Neighbor; their video “Is my roommate gay?” is one to watch. You might recognize Bennet from those AT&T commercials with kids; fun fact: Lonely Island member and former SNL writer Jorma Taccone directs those spots. Wells is a great impressionist; watch her do Zooey Deschanel and Dana from Homeland. Milhiser can portray a wide range of emotions and like Mooney he’s great at being super weird; watch is encompassing acting reel and this subtle yet hysterical sketch called “Dress Code.” Thanks to his direct connection to SNL, O’Brien was able to make a really entertaining web series called 7 Minutes in Heaven and each episode features him improving with celebrities.

And there you have it. The four featured players coming to Saturday Night Live in its 39th season this fall. What do you think of the new crop of talent?

Gamescom 2013: Xbox One & PS4 launch titles revealed

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This week Cologne, Germany played host to Gamescom, one of the largest video games trade shows in the world. With next-gen systems in the pipeline, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Microsoft and Sony had a major presence at the show. Since the console makers already revealed their hardware at E3 in June, Gamescom was all about the, ahem, games.

Microsoft officially unveiled Xbox One’s launch lineup. As of August 19, there are 50 announced titles coming to Xbox One, 23 of which are hitting the marketplace day-and-date with the console’s holiday season release. Click those provided links to scan the lists, or simply jump after the break to do so. In addition to revealing the One’s games, Microsoft also spent time hyping its ID@Xbox initiative, or Independent Developers @ Xbox. Simply put, Microsoft is committed to helping indie devs achieve their goals of making games for Xbox One and it is striving to make the process as quick and streamlined as possible by making powerful tools and services available.

While Microsoft wasn’t ready to nail down the Xbox One’s release date, Sony upstaged them (again) by announcing that the PlayStation 4 will drop on November 15, 2013 in North America and on November 29 in Europe and Latin America. In terms of games, Sony isn’t saying which ones will launch alongside the console but it promises that 33 games will release before the end of the year, 18 of which are digital-download titles only. A grand total of 180 games are currently in development for the PS4. Jump after the break to see the launch window lineup. Sony also expressed its commitment to fostering indie devs by titles like FEZ (Polytron Corporation), Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games), and Supermagical (Tama Games). Also, Twitch is coming to PS4 to serve as another way for gamers to live stream their gameplay in addition to Ustream; and movies are in the works based on Digital Polyphony’s Gran Turismo franchise and Ubisoft’s upcoming Watch Dogs (see in-game pic above). Elsewhere, the PS Vita is getting a $50 price drop to $199 and the portable’s memory cards are falling in price as well. Over 25 new games are coming to Vita over the next 12 months.

Now since Gamescon is based on Europe, Microsoft and Sony made some exciting announcements for that far-away land. For example, MSFT says all pre-ordered consoles will ship with a free copy of FIFA 2014 because we all know how much Europeans enjoy their “football.” And on Sony’s end, “Magma Red” and “Wave Blue” color variants of the DualShock 4 controller will ship first in Europe and Latin America before eventually making their way to the States later this year.

The last piece of the next-gen puzzle is the Xbox One’s release date. As we await word from Microsoft, kick back and browse the launch lineups for the One and PS4 after the break! Continue reading Gamescom 2013: Xbox One & PS4 launch titles revealed →

Steve Ballmer to retire from Microsoft after 33 years with the company

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When Bill Gates stepped away from Microsoft in 2000 to pursue his humanitarian efforts, Steve Ballmer took over as CEO of the company. Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as the tech company’s 30th employee. In a letter sent to all Microsoft employees titled Moving forward, Ballmer eloquently writes, “There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time.” Though Ballmer’s reign oversaw the widely maligned OS known as Windows Vista and the choppy launch of Windows 8 and Windows Phone, he notes that he is proud of what the company has achieved during his tenure. “We have grown from $7.5 million to nearly $78 billion since I joined Microsoft, and we have grown from employing just over 30 people to almost 100,000. I feel good about playing a role in that success and having committed 100 percent emotionally all the way.” There is no arguing that. Not at all.

As Microsoft is starting to transition into a devices and services company, Ballmer understands that new leadership with a fresh set of eyes is best for the Windows maker to move forward successfully. “We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company’s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.”

Ballmer is set to retire within 12 months. Official MSFT PR and his letter to employees rest after the break. Continue reading Steve Ballmer to retire from Microsoft after 33 years with the company →

Ben Affleck is Zack Snyder’s Batman in ‘Man of Steel’ sequel

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At Comic Con Zack Snyder formally announced that a Man of Steel sequel is in the works and that it will pit Henry Cavill’s Superman against a new Batman. After completing Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Christian Bale publicly stated that he has laid the cape and cowl down to rest. So who would step into Bale’s shadow to become the next Bruce Wayne?

Ben Affleck.

Yes, the man who once played the super hero Daredevil in the widely dismissed 2003 flick about blind lawyer Matt Murdock and who even dressed up as Superman as actor George Reeves in 2006’s Hollywoodland, Ben Affleck is Batman. After losing his way in Daredevil and Gigli, Affleck turned his career around by becoming a filmmaker and directing critically acclaimed movies like The Town and Argo. He also happened to star in those movies and if you ask me he did a fine job all the way around. But the question remains: can he step into a super hero suit and make viewers forget his ill-fated turn as the blind red crusader? The Internet reacted quite negatively to the news, but I say let’s give him a shot. As long as Matt Damon is Robin.

Warner Bros’ press release reads: Affleck and filmmaker Zack Snyder will create an entirely new incarnation of the character in Snyder’s as-yet-untitled project—bringing Batman and Superman together for the first time on the big screen and continuing the director’s vision of their universe, which he established in Man of Steel.

Snyder notes, “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”

Also, we now have a date for the Man of Steel sequel: July 17, 2015.

Ready, set, theorize! J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions teases mysterious new project

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J.J. Abrams has another super-secret project up his sleeve. On the 13th of August his production company Bad Robot tweeted out a link to a mysterious video titled “Stranger” hosted on BR’s newly minted YouTube channel. The minute-and-seven-second video, like most everything Abrams does, is shrouded in a giant blanket of mystery and intrigue. With no press release to work off, viewers are forced to speculate and theorize.

Backed by a beautiful, piano-led score likely helmed by Abrams’ go-to composer Michael Giacchino, “Stranger” sets up a starry night scene where a long-haired man emerges from the sea. The visuals come to a screeching halt when a menacing looking man whose mouth is stitched up takes over the frame. A narrator recites the following words: “He arrived knowing nothing of himself. Who is he? Soon he will know. Because what begins at the water shall end there. And what ends there, shall once more begin. This is what happens: men become lost, men vanish, men are erased, and reborn.” At the very end, the words “Soon he will know” begin vanishing one by one.

After racking my brain on this one, a few theories surface to the top. First, as everyone well knows, J.J. is currently working on reigniting the Star Wars franchise with Episode VII; though a viral campaign to get the buzz going around this highly anticipated film would be exciting, I just don’t see it here. The starry sky is a subtle hint, but everything else just doesn’t make sense for it to be SW related.

Another project under J.J.’s belt includes the upcoming NBC supernatural drama Believe but again, this black-and-white visual simply doesn’t line up with that show’s pitch. However, a slight clue lingers here, too; Jake McLaughlin who plays wrongfully imprisoned death row inmate Tate on the show sports a shaggy mane of hair just like the man who comes from the sea. But Believe‘s main star is a little girl named Bo who has super powers that need protecting and this teaser sheds no light on that whatsoever.

Now it’s true that this may very well be an extremely early tease for The Stop Along the Way, Rod Serling’s final screenplay whose rights were recently sold to Bad Robot. Little is known about the project initially imagined by the Twilight Zone creator so it’s difficult to read into this any further.

I’ve saved the most believable theory for last. You may or may not know this, but Abrams is getting in on the books business. That’s right–he conceived and developed a story written by award-winning author Doug Dorst (Alive in Necropolis). And get this–the name of the novel is S. As in “Stranger,” as in “Soon he will know.” Now, read the novel’s synopsis:

At the core of this multilayered literary puzzle of love and adventure is a book of mysterious provenance. In the margins, another tale unfolds—through the hand-scribbled notes, questions, and confrontations of two readers. Between the pages, online, and in the real world, you’ll find evidence of their interaction, ephemera that bring this tale vividly to life.

S. is being released by Mulholland Books/Little, Brown and Company on October 29, 2013 and according to a press release. “Abram’ production company, Bad Robot, will be promoting the book leading up to and at publication time.” The video titled “Stranger” could easily be the start of a marketing campaign for this book. The synopsis hints that the story will expand its tale across various forms of media including the Internet. Until further evidence reveals itself, I think we having a winning theory here. It’s perfect, really. Viewers are clamoring to the idea that this video must be hyping a film or TV series when in reality it’s introducing Bad Robot fans to an entirely different form of entertainment: books!

Share your theories in the comment section below as we await the next “Stranger” tease that surely must be imminent.

‘Homeland’ season 3 injected with more teasers plus a series recap

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Following that somber full-length trailer, Homeland is letting a few more videos creep onto the scene before Showtime unveils the third season on September 29. Above, the main cast of talented actors discuss the state of the show with brand-new, never-before-seen footage placed throughout. After the break, two new teasers titled “Haunted” and “Who Do You Trust” reside along with a welcome “From The Beginning” recap.

And now I ask you, dear readers, who do you trust? Continue reading ‘Homeland’ season 3 injected with more teasers plus a series recap →

Peek at the upcoming season of HBO’s ‘Girls’ in filtered photos

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HBO’s Lena Dunham show Girls doesn’t come back for its third season until some time in 2014 but that doesn’t mean fans can’t get a slice of what’s in store for Hannah Horvath & friends. Check out this “in production tease” for the show that includes many Instagram-like stills from upcoming scenes. In additional to the four leading ladies, Adam, Ray, and Elijah are also accounted for.

Inside the ‘American Horror Story’ main title sequence

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If you’re a fan of FX’s American Horror Story then you know just how intricate and foreboding the main title sequences for the series can be. In this brief but tantalizing clip, executive producer Ryan Murphy and title designer Kyle Cooper discuss the sheer amount of effort that goes into making the title sequence for the show. Since each season tells an entirely different horror story with new characters, each opening sequence therefore also shifts and adapts to a new setting and tone.

“If you can make a title sequence that elicits an emotional reaction, that’s a successful title sequence,” says Cooper.

“I’ve always been obsessed with main titles, I really feel like it’s an art form,” Murphy adds. “It tells you what the viewing experience ahead is going to be.”

Murphy goes on to tease what fans can expect from the Coven opening titles, and I’ll save that fun morsel for you to hear yourself. Click play and invite that spooky theme music back into your squishy brain.

AHS: Coven premieres this October.

[Via THR]

Netflix touts 14 Emmy nods in this powerful promo

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Now here’s a cool clip that nicely summates Netflix’s rise in power with original programming. As previously reported, the streaming service collected 14 Emmy nominations among three of its shows; namely Hemlock Grove (2 nods), Arrested Development (3), and House of Cards (9). The Kevin Spacey political drama even managed to break into the Outstanding Drama category to be seated among popular cable series like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Homeland.

“Take a step back, look at the bigger picture; we have the opportunity to make history here,” says Spacey as House of Cards‘ Francis Underwood. With so many nominations, Netflix is poised to make a name for itself when the Emmys air September 22. Whether these series win or lose at the awards show, Netflix has already changed the game and that’s what makes this teaser feel so…empowering.